General Guidelines:
Creative video productions that are entered into the Utah High School Film Festival should reveal skill, imagination, creativity and the power of visual storytelling. The UHSFF places value on the truths revealed through the events, disappointments, joys and conflicts we all experience. Although UHSFF is open to diverse interpretations of this human experience, we will accept for competition only those productions that avoid being gratuitously or explicitly violent, obscene or overtly sexual. Likewise, UHSFF contest entries should avoid youth involved in risky, questionable, or illegal activities without also examining the outcomes, ramifications or consequences of those activities.
Teachers/Advisers are responsible for the content of each entry. Don’t show or glamorize explicit drug use, tobacco or alcohol consumption in any way. Gratuitous violence is not accepted. Any violence in a production must be an integral part of the story. Sexual references, innuendo, and dramatization is not accepted. Don’t use any profanity or vulgarity whatsoever. All entries should not exceed a PG rating and should following state “safe school” policies.
3. Video Submission
Each school is allowed to submit two (2) videos per category, except in the case of the “5 Sec. Comedy” in which schools are allowed to submit five (5) videos. All entries must be uploaded by 12:00AM MST April 6, 2013. Late entries will not be accepted. Entries for the 2013 Festival will be submitted via the UHSFF website and/or your school’s Youtube page. Each entry must keep within the respective category time limits. Entries exceeding the time limitations will be disqualified. In the case of the “Video Soup” category, any video that is submitted that could reasonably fit into another category, regardless of time limits, will not be considered.
We strongly encourage strict adherence to copyright law. Please use royalty-free music or be able to show permission to use commercially-owned media. Additionally, plagiarism is not accepted. Each video should be an original work. Do not “remake” a commercial video exactly as it appears. Do not submit a re-edited verson of a commercial video that you didn’t shoot.
4. Teacher/Adviser Participation
Teachers/Advisers must not participate in any way on students’ entries other than in a strictly advisory capacity. Each entry should be considered a “final” and not a “teaching/learning” activity. Teachers are primarily responsible for the submission of videos. In the case of a student-submitted video, the respective teacher will be notified and will have final say as to whether or not the video will be considered.
